Man pleads no contest in child porn case

Published: Monday, February 25, 2013 at 5:09 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, February 25, 2013 at 5:09 p.m.

A 65-year-old Ocala man pleaded no contest on Monday to numerous charges of child pornography. He will be sentenced at a later date and faces up to a 200-year prison sentence.

In November 2009, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children alerted Marion County authorities they suspected David H. Dunham of sending emails containing a child pornography attachment, according to a sheriff's report.

Authorities discovered Dunham sent an email to three parties; each email contained child pornography.

On Nov. 20, 2009, authorities met with Dunham at his home in Ocala and he consented to a search of his home and computer. At the time, according to the sheriff's report, he denied having sent any emails with child porn.

Dunham told law officers he looked at adult pornography and frequented sites with clothed children, the report said.

On that day, authorities didn't find any traces of child pornography during their search. But five days later, authorities obtained a search warrant and collected the computer from Dunham's house, the report said.

It was later confirmed that the email containing the pornographic images had been sent from Dunham's email address and computer, the report said.

In fact, the later review of Dunham's computer showed that more than 7,000 pornographic images had been viewed on the computer, 2,000 of which were child pornography, the report said.

He was arrested on June 8, 2010, and released on a $40,000 bond 20 days later.

Dunham was charged with 20 counts of child pornography possession. In court Monday, Dunham's defense attorney sought a pre-sentence investigation since Dunham has no prior offenses.

Dunham submitted an open plea to the court and did not have any plea bargain with the State Attorney's Office.

Contact Vishal Persaud at 867-4065, vishal.persaud@starbanner.com or on Twitter @vishalpersaud.

<p>A 65-year-old Ocala man pleaded no contest on Monday to numerous charges of child pornography. He will be sentenced at a later date and faces up to a 200-year prison sentence.</p><p>In November 2009, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children alerted Marion County authorities they suspected David H. Dunham of sending emails containing a child pornography attachment, according to a sheriff's report.</p><p>Authorities discovered Dunham sent an email to three parties; each email contained child pornography.</p><p>On Nov. 20, 2009, authorities met with Dunham at his home in Ocala and he consented to a search of his home and computer. At the time, according to the sheriff's report, he denied having sent any emails with child porn.</p><p>Dunham told law officers he looked at adult pornography and frequented sites with clothed children, the report said.</p><p>On that day, authorities didn't find any traces of child pornography during their search. But five days later, authorities obtained a search warrant and collected the computer from Dunham's house, the report said.</p><p>It was later confirmed that the email containing the pornographic images had been sent from Dunham's email address and computer, the report said.</p><p>In fact, the later review of Dunham's computer showed that more than 7,000 pornographic images had been viewed on the computer, 2,000 of which were child pornography, the report said.</p><p>He was arrested on June 8, 2010, and released on a $40,000 bond 20 days later.</p><p>Dunham was charged with 20 counts of child pornography possession. In court Monday, Dunham's defense attorney sought a pre-sentence investigation since Dunham has no prior offenses.</p><p>Dunham submitted an open plea to the court and did not have any plea bargain with the State Attorney's Office.</p><p><i>Contact Vishal Persaud at 867-4065, vishal.persaud@starbanner.com or on Twitter @vishalpersaud.</i></p>